LINTHICUM, MD, January 21, 2010–The American Urological Association (AUA) has named Christopher Gonzalez, MD, MBA, the 2010-2011 Gallagher Health Policy Scholar. As part of the program, Dr. Gonzalez--clinical practice director for the Northwestern University Department of Urology--will engage in a wide range of activities preparing him to become a leading advocate of urology health policy issues.

The Gallagher Health Policy Scholar Program, created in honor of former AUA Executive Director G. James Gallagher, is designed to train the next generation of urologists for leadership positions in health policy. Scholars spend a full year engaged in critical seminars, conferences and meetings at the national level, receive mentoring from AUA physicians in senior roles and participate in an American College of Surgeons-sponsored, week-long health policy seminar for surgeons held at Brandeis University. Scholars also engage in other educational activities that ensure their immersion in and understanding of health policy issues of importance to urology.

“Dr. Gonzalez’s extensive community service and proven commitment to advancing urology’s health policy agenda made him a clear choice for this prestigious honor,” said AUA Associate Executive Director of Health Policy Beth Kosiak, PhD. “In a time of healthcare reform, it is increasingly important that young urologists with such great potential—such as Dr. Gonzalez—learn the skills necessary to protect and advance urology’s interests at the local, state and national levels. The Gallagher Health Policy Scholar Program is just one way that the AUA is ensuring that the highest caliber of young urologists become conversant in a full range of health policy issues.”

“As the fourth scholar to receive this award, Dr. Gonzalez will continue in the steps of previous Gallagher Scholars and will go on to serve as a leader in this field,” noted AUA Health Policy Chair Steven Schlossberg, MD, MBA. “As a urologist, I understand the demands of clinical practice and I find it truly inspiring to see busy, young physicians volunteering their spare time to such important issues affecting our healthcare system.”

In addition to Dr. Gonzalez’s role as a faculty member and practitioner at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, he has led several community outreach programs, including a National Institutes of Health-funded pilot project involving prostate cancer screening and education among Hispanic men in Chicago, as well as an International Surgical Relief Mission among the Northwestern Department of Urology staff. An active member of the AUA, Dr. Gonzalez currently serves on the Quality Improvement & Patient Safety (QIPS) Committee and the Legislative Workgroup. Additionally, he is a representative on the 2010 Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee and is a member of the panel that is revising the AUA “Guideline on the Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).”

From 2003-2006, Dr. Gonzalez served as chief of urology at the Veterans Administration Lakeside division. He received his medical degree from the University of Iowa School of Medicine, completed his residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and earned his master’s degree in business administration at the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Business Management.

For more information about the Gallagher Health Policy Scholar Program, or to request a headshot of Dr. Gonzalez, please contact Lacey Dean at 410-689-4054 or ldean@AUAnet.org. The following spokespeople are also available for interviews:

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is the pre-eminent professional organization for urologists, with more than 16,000 members throughout the world. An educational nonprofit organization, the AUA pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care by carrying out a wide variety of programs for members and their patients.